Choi ready for World Golf Championships this time

Josh Weir

Tuesday

Jul 31, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2007 at 10:23 AM

AKRON, Ohio -- Now it’s time for deep thoughts with K.J. Choi.

Now it’s time for deep thoughts with K.J. Choi.

The 37-year-old South Korean talked about faith, charity, helping kids from his homeland, maybe even writing a book in the future during an interview session Tuesday for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

He also talked about playing better golf at Firestone Country Club.

Choi has struggled at Firestone’s South Course, finishing no better than 22nd in four starts. He ended the 2004 and 2005 tournaments at 10-over par each year.

But Choi isn’t about to complain about the Buckeye State, especially after his win at The Memorial in Columbus this summer, the first of two tournament wins so far in 2007.

“I really like Ohio,” a smiling Choi said through his translator, Michael Yin. “It just makes me very comfortable being here. It’s true that I’ve never really played well at Firestone, and I’ve always left Firestone thinking that I could have done better. But I think this week it’s a different story.”

Choi has the stats to back up that feeling.

He is 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking, with his other win coming in the AT&T National at Congressional in July. He finished ninth at the British Open, his sixth top-10 of the season.

“My swing has been very consistent this year,” said Choi, a compact 5-foot-8, 185 pounds. “It’s based on power, you know, rotating the shoulders. So it’s very stable. ... And my short game, my putting has been very good lately. All these just factor into my confidence, and I think that’s why it’s going to be different this year.”

Part of that confidence is comfort.

Choi, a hero in his native land, has lived in the United States for almost eight years and can communicate in English for everyday things.

“It’s hard for me to really communicate what I really feel deep inside in the exact way that I want to, because I have to go through a translator,” said Choi, the first Korean to earn his PGA Tour card. “But I think (with) the other things, I feel very comfortable. It’s not a problem for me at all. I feel very at home being on the PGA Tour, living in Houston. So it’s all good.”

There is a peace about Choi, a sense of balance and purpose. According to him, that comes from above.

“My faith in the Lord, it’s set a foundation for me, like a steppingstone for me, something to rely on,” Choi said. “It gives me something to rely on emotionally, mentally.”

Choi has a desire to write a golf instructional book for South Korean youth, similar to the Jack Nicklaus books he learned the game from a long time ago.

After his 2005 win at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, he donated $90,000 to the Korean Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, N.C., that he attends each year during the event.

He was asked what he would do if he won the FedEx Cup championship later this season, worth a cool $10 million.

“If I’m able to win it, I want to give it all to charity, 100 percent,” Choi said. “I want to help those kids that really need it, kids who are starving, people who need the money, unfortunate families. I want to spend it mostly on the children and teenagers, adolescents, that need help in their direction in life.”